The audio CD with this edition of Much Ado About Nothing contains a series of unique recordings to illustrate how different actors place their own interpretation on the play. Hear Sir John Gielgud as Benedick and Dame Peggy Ashcroft as Beatrice in a 1950 production. Compare that to a contemporary version from 2003. There are also superb performances from Alan Ayckbourn, Amanda Root and Samuel West. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs from notable productions, including Kenneth Branagh's 1993 film and RSC productions featuring Harriet Walter, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Janet Suzman. The book also takes you behind the scenes with reproductions of set drawings, costume designs and scene edits, including costume renderings from the 1958 production at the Shakespeare Memorial Theater. As well as the playtext, there are articles covering a range of topics including 'In Production: Much Ado About Nothing through the Years' by Jeffrey Kahan, 'Much Ado About Nothing in Popular Culture' by Douglas Lanier, 'A Voice Coach's Perspective on Speaking Shakespeare' by Andrew Wade and 'In the Age of Shakespeare' by Thomas Garvey.
The Sourcebooks Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing is an invaluable tool for students of all ages from GCSE to A Level and beyond.
This is Book 3 in the Sourcebooks Shakespeare Series. See all Sourcebooks Shakespeare books here.
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William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and was baptised on 26 April 1564. His father was a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do local land owner. Shakespeare was probably educated in Stratford's grammar school. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple had a daughter t
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